Dodhikarma - Yammm

Dodhikarma for Saraswati Puja

Saraswati puja is never complete without the traditional helping of the special sweet mixture offering known as Dodhikarma that is offered to the Goddess in the morning on the day of immersion. The ingredients which comprises of sweet curd, popped rice, dairy sweets and
ripe banana are offered while the priest performs the rituals of worship afterwords these ingredients are mixed together to prepare the delicious 'Dodhikarma', which is then offered as Prasad of the puja.

In Bengal Saraswati puja is the occasion of the youngsters or the students. It is the occasion where we are first tested of our event management skills, where we first get to communicate our ideas and express ourselves to the society. From the age of 14 till 24 and perhaps even longer for energetic social networkers,
the call of the cuckkoo that marks the start of the puja day till the cold
sensation on ones palm on recieving the dodhikarma the entire duration holds a special
place in our heart and is awaited eagerly every year.

There is a special relation that Bengal enjoys with curd.

Dodhikarma - puja prasad

Dodhimangal - marraige ritual

Dodhichira - Chaitanya Danda Mahotsav

I am a believer in low fat breakfasts on working days and a bit of curd at
the end of it for a fit and cool headed day. The curd helps in keeping the
digestive track free of strenous gases thus relieving us of any discomfort
that might hamper our activities throught the day. As the sayings of our
forefathers go such breakfasts used to keep us calm and stable in simpler
times. The tradition of applying curd tilaks on the forehead after having a
spoonfull on auspicious days might have risen owing to this property of the
curd.

Traditionally, you can add parched rice or
puffed rice [muri মুড়ি] and washed beaten rice [chira চিড়া] with it. You can add seasonal fruits, sugar
and honey for puja offering. This easy to make Bengali breakfast cereal recipe
can challange any breakfast cereal bowl by its taste and healthy nutritious value.

Prep time: 00:10
| Cook time:
00:05
|
Total time: 00:15 | Yield: 2 servingsIngredients
Ingredients:
Thankuni pata/ Centella leaves, 2 bunches about 100 g Green chilies 2 Kalo jeera (onion seeds), 1 tsp Salt to taste Oil 1 tspA pinch of sugar to balance the tasteInstructions: Take the leaves from bunches (you can use whole leaves with stigma). Wash and clean thoroughly and keep in a big bowl of lukewarm water for 5 minutes. Take out leaves from water, do not strain, use your hand and remove leaves from water carefully.Though thankuni is usually not attacked by pets and diseases of serious nature, but this a small,…

Bhut chadurdoshi and Choddo Shak - 14 Greens ritualBhut chadurdoshi and Choddo Shak - 14 Greens ritual
Green Gaga
By Barnali Dutta,
published by Prasadam: October 22, 2014Tomorrow is Kali puja. On this day the Mother, the Goddess of Strength [Shakti], the source of all, the universal principle of energy, power or creativity is worshipped and this is also known as the famous Festival of Lights - Diwali. By Diwali I remember that in the market today, alongside large displays of fire crackers, lined up wicker baskets full of green herb is to be found too. In no time I had decided and amassed with lots of health arrived there. Truely, it is a rare opportunity to have so many rare edible green vegetables available in the market in Kolkata these days.

According to our forefathers this is the time at the end of the monsoons when people should start eating herbs in Bengal. I still wonder how much have we progressed or advanced or modernized from our forefathers. Man has left behind a wonde…

Sabir's Mutton Rezala Recipe
Sabir's Mutton Rezala Recipe
By Barnali Dutta,
published by Prasadam: October 13, 2014Mutton Rezala with Paratha is the most desirable dish during the festive season of our family due to its comparitively low richness, the fact which has set our mind free to eat sufficient red meat once in a year in the tropical geographical climatic region like Kolkata. The word 'rezala' stands for "khoobsurat" meaning beautiful. In reality the beauty of this highly popular Mughal dish Rezala [lamb or goat meat in a thin yogurt sauce] can only be understood by those who have tasted it from the menu of Sabir's Hotel. This eatery situated at 3 and 5 Biplabi Anukul Chandra Street, Chandni Chowk metro station, kolkata acquainted the Bengali cuisine in the year 1948.
Said Sabir Ali from the state of Uttar Pradesh came to Kolkata in search of earnings. While working for a daily meal eatery where he used to make tikia and paratha he conceived th…